The Tacos Are Amazing... Until You Crave Something Else
One of the biggest surprises after moving to Mexico was just how incredible the fresh food is. The fruits are sweeter, the vegetables are packed with flavor, the seafood is amazingly fresh, and don't even get me started on tortillas. But every country has its strengths. Along with that abundance comes limitations. Try finding really good cottage cheese, a proper lox bagel, certain foreign ingredients, or some of your favorite American products. Yes, you'll eventually find substitutes, but it takes time for your taste buds to adapt. Until then, you're living in a bit of a culinary limbo.
Those of you who follow this page know I'm a foodie. Living in San Francisco completely spoiled me with its incredible diversity of cuisines. Before that, living in Europe spoiled me even more. Within a few hours, I could be eating pizza in Rome, sausages in Prague, or pastries in Vienna. You don't realize how much you take that variety for granted until it's gone. It sounds like such a small thing... until all you want is a really good papaya salad and you simply can't find one.
For some people, this won't matter at all. For others, it's a real adjustment. I recently spent a week back in San Francisco, and walking through a supermarket reminded me what "food abundance" really looks like. Endless choices, ingredients from every corner of the world, and what felt like 25 different kinds of fresh bread in one aisle. It hit me harder than I expected. It's a good reminder that every place gives you something... and every place asks you to give something up in return.
